NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Acura MDX. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
TRUCK STARTED HESITATING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH. WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND WHEN TRUCK MADE SUDDEN JERK THEN HESITATED. *TR
I HAD JUST TRAVELED 19 MILES ON THE FREEWAY AND HAD STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT ON THE OFFRAMP. SHORTLY AFTER MAKING THE TURN, THE CAR STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED. I COASTED, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. I HAD TO STOP, PUT CAR IN GEAR, AND EVENTUALLY RESTARTED THE CAR. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT WHEN THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING (FIRST WAS PULLING INTO AN UNDERGROUND PARKING STRUCTURE). THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT MAKING DRIVING DIFFICULT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AS IT COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THEIR IDEA TO RESOLVE WAS TO BLINDLY START REPLACING EXPENSIVE PARTS OF THE ENGINE. I FEEL I AM PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE EACH TIME I DRIVE THE CAR AND THE NEXT TIME MAY RESULT IN A COLLISION. *TR
MY ACURA MDX 2002 HAD A FROZEN/STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL THAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO THROTTLE HIGH SPEED UPTO 50 MPH WITHIN 30 SECS. THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND COULD NOT STOP INSTANTLY WHEN HIT THE BRAKES. CRASH CAUSED THE PROPERTY,VEHICLE DAMAGE AND ACCIDENT REPORTED TO POLICE AND DMV. *TR
I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER B/C THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN ON THE FREEWAY AND THIS NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER THEY INSPECTED IT THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, SO THEY HAD ME TAKE A SERVICE TECH WITH ME FOR A TEST RIDE. HE TOLD ME THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
AUTO TRANSMISSION HESITATE TO SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR AND NOT ALL THE TIME THIS HAPPENS. IT OCCURS ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN? YOU NEVER KNOW.ALL ACURA MDX 01,02 SHOULD BE PULLED OUT OF STREETS. MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT. IT IS A DESIGN PROBLEM NOT ONLY IT IS HAZARDOUS FOR OWNERS BUT ALSO FOR OTHER PEOPLE. *TR
MY 2002 ACURA MDX HAS BEEN FAILING DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THERE TRANSMISSION. THEY WILL NOT ADMIT THERE WRONG. EVERY ONE WITH THIS TYPE OF SUV HAS EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 2002 ACURA MDX 112000K BOUGHT USED W NO WARRANTY .5DAYS LATER THE CAR SHIFTS DOWN GEAR WHEN U LIFT OFF THE GAS ALLTHE TIME WHEN CHANGING GEAR ON HILL ITS SEEMS TO BE JAMMING ..TOOK TO SEVERAL AUTO PLACE TO HOOK TO MACHINE . IT ALL SHOWS THE SAME CODE TORQUE CONVERTER . /TRANSMISSION . *TR
2002 ACURA MDX WITH 70,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHICH HAS BEEN REPORTED HUNDRED IF NOT THOUSANDS OF TIMES TO ACURA/HONDA FOR THE 2001-2003 YEAR TRANSMISSIONS. TRANSMISSION IS SKIPPING AND WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR FROM 2ND GEAR TO 3RD GEAR. THIS IS AT ABOUT 25-30 MPH AND MOSTLY OCCURS ON SLIGHT UPHILL GRADES. AS I LOOK ON EDMUNDS.COM AND GOOGLE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM. AT 22,000 MILES MY ACURA DEALER IN 2004 PLACED A LUBRICANT INJECTION FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM . NOW AT 70,000 MILES WITH MINIMAL USE, REGULAR MAINTENANCE, AND DEALER ONLY INSPECTIONS THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. THE PATCH KIT DID NOT WORK. I EXPECT A $40,000 CAR TO LAST MORE THAN 70,000 MILES BEFORE A MAJOR PROBLEM. ACURA/HONDA SHOULD ISSUE A FULL RECALL TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS. *TR
ON OCTOBER 13, 2009, AT ABOUT 12:45, I PROVIDED MY 2002 ACURA MDX TO JERRY DAMSON ACURA, HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA FOR THE '82,500 MILE SERVICE'. AT ABOUT 1:15 I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATING THAT TWO ENGINE MOUNTS WERE BROKEN. THE PRICE WOULD BE ABOUT $500. ALTHOUGH I WAS CONCERNED HOW ENGINE MOUNT FAILURES COULD HAPPEN ON A VEHICLE WITH THIS MILEAGE, I AGREED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED FOR OBVIOUS SAFETY REASONS. LATER THAT DAY I DISCOVERED OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET FOR BROKEN ENGINE MOUNTS FOR THIS VEHICLE. WHEN I ARRIVED AT JERRY DAMSON ACURA TO PICK IT UP, I ADVISED THE SERVICE PERSON THAT I FELT ACURA SHOULD PAY FOR THIS. THE ACURA SERVICE MANAGER, GIL WILLIAMS, WAS CALLED-IN TO DISCUSS THIS PROBLEM WITH ME. HE STATED THAT THEY/ACURA WOULD NOT PAY FOR THIS. I ASKED HOW A FAILURE OF THIS NATURE COULD HAPPEN AT THIS MILEAGE. AFTER SOME DISCUSSION HE STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS LOCATED NEAR THESE PARTICULAR ENGINE MOUNTS AND CONTRIBUTES TO INCREASED TEMPERATURE IN THE AREA, RESULTING IN FAILURE OF THESE ENGINE MOUNTS. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE HAD PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED THIS PROBLEM WITH ACURA AND THEY ADVISED HIM TO 'SELL IT AS A MAINTENANCE ITEM'. I STATED THIS WAS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN DEFECT THAT ACURA OR JERRY DAMSON SHOULD PAY FOR. HE SAID THEY WOULD NOT. I ASKED HIM TO ELEVATE THIS TO THE JERRY DAMSON GENERAL MANAGER. HE REFUSED TO DO THAT. HE PROVIDED ME WITH THE PHONE NUMBER FOR 'ACURA CLIENT SERVICES', HE WOULD DO NOTHING ELSE. I RELUCTANTLY PAID FOR THIS BROKEN ENGINE MOUNTS REPAIR AT $483 IN ORDER TO RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE. IT IS A LOGICAL DEDUCTION THAT THE BROKEN ENGINE MOUNT PROBLEM IS A DESIGN DEFECT SINCE HE ADMITTED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER'S PROXIMITY TO THE ENGINE MOUNTS CONTRIBUTES TO THIS EARLY FAILURE. IT'S THEREFORE CLEAR THAT THIS REPAIR COST SHOULD BE BORNE BY ACURA/JERRY DAMSON. *TR
2002 ACURA MDX REQUIRED A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT FOLLOWING A RAPID DECELERATION OF VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY. LUCKILY AVOIDED COLLISION BY OTHER VEHICLES. CODES ON DIAGNOSTIC INDICATED TRANS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AT 136,000 MILES. TO KEEP VEHICLE SAFE, I HAVE PAID 4,000 ++ DOLLARS TO REPLACE. THANKFULLY ACCIDENT DID NOT FOLLOW WITH THE RAPID DECELERATION. *TR
THE SUV WAS DRIVEN AROUND 5 MILES, AND THEN SUDDENLY WOULD NOT ACCELERATE IN THE MIDDLE OF FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE RPM WAS SHOWING MUCH HIGHER THAN NORMAL (WITH HIGH ENGINE NOISE), BUT THE SUV WASN'T MOVING INTO HIGHER GEAR. THIS SUDDEN SLOW MOVING CAR IN MIDDLE OF FAST MOVING TRAFFIC COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. AMOCO CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION, AND SAID THE OIL LEVEL WAS FINE, BUT PART OF THE OIL WAS "BURNT". THE TRANSMISSION IS BEING REBUILT BY AAMCO. THE SUV IS 8 YEARS OLD AND LOW MILEAGE - 63K MILES, AND WELL MAINTAINED. TRANSMISSION OIL WAS REPLACED 5 MONTHS BACK. *TR
TRANSMISSION ISSUE DEALER CHARGED ME $4400 AND ACURA GAVE ME 25% DISCOUNT TO DO THE REPAIR. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND STILL ACURA IS NOT TAKING FULL RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE ISSUE WITHOUT ANY MONEY, MOST OF THE OWNERS GOT 90% DISCOUNT AND NOW ACURA IS JUST GIVING 25% DISCOUNT . *TR
A MONTH OR SO AGO I NOTICED THE VEHICLE WASN'T SHIFTING AS SMOOTHLY AS IT SHOULD. THAT WAS FOLLOWED SHORTLY THEREAFTER BY THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR BRIEFLY. THEN, RECENTLY, AS I WAS MERGING INTO FREEWAY TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF A LOWER GEAR AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER TO AVOID BEING HIT FROM BEHIND. I SAT THERE UNTIL TRAFFIC CLEARED AT WHICH TIME I WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY CONTINUE DOWN THE ROAD. THE TRANSMISSION THEN SHIFTED CORRECTLY. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, AND IN LIGHT OF ALL ELSE I HAVE READ REGARDING TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH ACURA MDX'S, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT AND THE WATER PUMP. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V226000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE) WAS REFERENCED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP AND THE TIMING BELT, BUT COULD NOT PROVIDE THE REPAIR DATE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED, BUT COULD NOT PROVIDE A DATE AS WELL. THE CONTACT IS EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH HIS VEHICLE AND WANTS TO KNOW WHEN IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY DURING A VACATION, CAR TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON, STARTING SMELLING FUNNY, READ MANUAL AND IT SAID IF THIS LIGHT WAS ON TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY - SEVERE DAMAGE CAN OCCUR IF YOU KEEP DRIVING. WE PULLED OVER IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. FLUID HAD SPILLED OUT ALL OVER ENGINE. THEY SAID THAT WAS FROM IT OVERHEATING AND BOILING THE FLUID OUT. WE SAT FOR A WHILE AND LET IT COOL DOWN. THE LIGHT WENT OFF, BUT WE DROVE AROUND 50 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THE REST OF OUR TRIP. THE CAR RESUMED TO WORK FINE. HOWEVER, WE HAVE CONSTANTLY HAD ISSUES WITH IT SLIPPING. WE TOOK TO OUR MECHANIC AND THEN TO ACURA. BOTH PARTIES AT FIRST DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING WAS WRONG, BUT THEN BOTH SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING. ACURA WOULD NOT GIVE ANY DISCOUNT, SO WE ENDED UP GOING WITH THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR COMPANY BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY $2200 INSTEAD OF $4500 BY ACURA. WAS WITHOUT A CAR FOR TWO WEEKS. A FEW MONTHS LATER IT BEGAN SLIPPING AGAIN, SO WE TOOK BACK AND THEY REPAIRED AGAIN, BECAUSE THIS COMPANY OFFERED A 12 MONTH WARRANTY. AGAIN, WAS WITHOUT A CAR FOR TWO WEEKS. NOW 7 MONTHS LATER, WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT ON BUSY ROAD. I WAS BRAKING COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT. THE LIGHT CHANGED, SO I SWITCHED TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL BEFORE I WAS FULLY STOPPED AND THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY WENT OUT AND WOULDN'T ENGAGE AT ALL. MY CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RED LIGHT AND CARS WERE SWERVING ALL AROUND US TO AVOID HITTING US. IT WAS A MIRACLE WE WEREN'T HURT. I PUT DOWN TO PARK, TURNED OFF CAR, AND THEN IT BEGAN WORKING LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. WENT BACK TO TRANSMISSION REPAIR PLACE AND THEY SAID THAT NOTHING SEEMED WRONG. THEY TOOK APART TWICE AND FINALLY REPLACED OUT 5TH GEAR EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKED COMPLETELY FINE. THEY SAID THEY HEARD THE WHINING NOISE, TOO, BUT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY DID REPLACE THOUGH AND HOPED THIS WOULD FIX IT. WE STILL HEAR THE WHINING NOISE AND NOW DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING OUR FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE. *TR
MY TWO SONS (17 AND 18) WERE DRIVING MY ACURA MDX 2002 ON A HIGHWAY 45 MILES FROM HOME WHEN THE REVS STARTS GOING OUT OF CONTROL WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OVER 40 MPH. THEY HAD TO BE TOWED BACK BY AAA AND I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION CHANGED AT 121K. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WILL SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WILL THEN RESUME NORMAL OPERATION AND DRIVE IN THE CORRECT GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO FILE A CLAIM FOR GOOD WILL WITH THE MANUFACTURER. SHE FILED A GOOD WILL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD COVER HALF OF THE REPAIR COST; HOWEVER, THE 105,000 MILE SERVICE WOULD HAVE TO BE PERFORMED AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 97,000.
I HAVE A 2002 ACURA MDX. EVERY TIME IT RAINS, THE CARPET ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE GET SOAKED WITH WATER. I CANNOT VISUALLY SEE WHERE THE WATER IS COMING FROM. I CALLED THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT ITS NOT A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I WENT ONLINE AND I FOUND OUT THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WITH THEIR CAR. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE MANUFACTURER DEFECTS IS SO MANY DRIVERS ARE HAVING ISSUES . NOT ONLY THAT THE WATER CAN REACH THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WHICH CAN BE DEADLY. PLEASE ADVISE IF THE DEALER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE IF SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. BASED ON MY RESEARCH ONLINE, NEWER MODELS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I'M HAVING. I BELIEVE THE COMPANY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE IF SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING ISSUES. *TR
ON 4/2/2009 THE FRONT END OF MY 2002 ACURA MDX SEIZED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH LOCKING UP THE FRONT END CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID 5-7 FEET TO A HALT. IT TURNS OUT THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE FIXED PER THE RECALL UNDER CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V176000 WAS THE ISSUE. IT WAS A GEAR FAILURE THAT RESULTED IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP. AS THERE WERE NO VEHICLES BEHIND ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED AN ACCIDENT DID NOT OCCUR; HOWEVER, THIS WAS AN ISSUE THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE ADDRESSED AND IT APPEARS IT WASN'T. ACURA STATES THE ISSUE WAS FIXED IN 2004 AND AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT APPEARS THERE ARE DOZENS OF SIMILAR TESTIMONIALS OF THIS EXACT OCCURRENCE ON ONLINE FORUMS. ACURA DENIED THE EXISTENCE OF AN ISSUE AND I FEEL THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN THAT REQUIRES FURTHER ACTION. *TR
2002 ACURA MDX TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 109100 MILES, EXTEND WARRANTY EXPIRED @ 108,462 MILES. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE TRANSMISSION THAT REQUIRED ACURA SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO DO AN INSPECTION, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN COUNTLESS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. THE REPLACEMENT COST IS $4400 WHICH IS WHAT THE DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING ME. IT SEEMS CHEAPER TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE HAVE TO HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF OTHERS ON YEAR MODELS 2001-2005 ACURA MDX SUVS. *TR
TRANSMISSION ON OUR 2002 ACURA MDX IS GOING OUT. OUR TRANSMISSION ON OUR 2001 MDX WENT OUT LAST YEAR. WE ALSO HAVE A 2002 HONDA ACCORD AND THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT ON THAT ALSO. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH HE COULD HEAR A RUMBLING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. ONCE THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH IT BEGAN TO DRIVE AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE BUT HE WAS INFORMED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT HE NEEDS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUES TO INTERMITTENTLY RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
THE DRIVER SEAT WILL ONLY GO BACK AND FORTH. IT WILL NO LONGER TILT OR GO UP AND DOWN. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHENEVER THE SPEED REACHED BETWEEN 20-35 MPH, THE GEARS WOULD STICK. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR BEGAN ILLUMINATING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE REPAIR, THE GEARS BECAME EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO SHIFT THAN BEFORE THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING FROM THE REAR AND ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST ACURA DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE BRACKET FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD ISSUE A NEW TRANSMISSION, BUT WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS FOR THE INTERMEDIATE BRACKET. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,900 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. ON 12/12/08, ACURA HEADQUARTERS REFUSED TO PAY OR HELP PAY FOR THE MAJOR WORK ON THE TRANSMISSION COST OF APPROXIMATELY $4,000+. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE ON JUNE 2, 2004; HOWEVER, THEY DIDN?T STATE WHAT WAS DONE. THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY PROOF IN WRITING. THE CARFAX REPORT ALSO DOES NOT LIST THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION OR ANY RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED. TWO ACURA DEALERS HAD THE VEHICLE IN THEIR POSSESSION (CORPORATE CAR) WHEN THE RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED AND CANNOT PROVIDE PROOF THAT THE WORK WAS DONE. THE VEHICLE HAS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCED TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) WAS REFERENCED. SINCE THE CONTACT IS THE SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER STATED THAT A NEW OIL JET KIT WAS PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED; THEREFORE THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. HE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH AN INVESTIGATOR CONCERNING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE. *TR
VEHICLE ABRUPTLY DOWNSHIFTED ALMOST THROWING DRIVER THROUGH WINDSHIELD TRAVELING AT APPROX 30 MPH. IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT TO DEALER WHERE THE DOWNSHIFTING OCCURRED 3-4 MORE TIMES ON THE 6 MILE DRIVE TO DEALER. DETERMINED BY DEALER TO BE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ALL SERVICING FOR TRANSMISSION WAS DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER INCLUDING 2004 RECALL SERVICE WHERE JET KIT WAS INSTALLED. DEALER COVERING ALL COSTS OF REPLACEMENT EXCEPT $500 OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES AND PROVIDING A 3YR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY ON REPAIR. HAD THIS FAILURE OCCURRED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY A SEVERE ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIGHLY LIKELY. *TR
I OWN A ACURA MDX 2002 MODEL, THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED BUT THE DEALER REPLACED IT AT NO COST TO ME. NOW THE SRS AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. I WAS SEARCHING FOR OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR SRS LIGHT STAYING ON AND FOUND AN OWNER HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO, THE REAR DUAL SEAT WILL NOT FOLD, SO I CALLED A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO SPECIALIZES IN ACURA, HE MENTIONED THAT THE MDX HAS A HISTORY OF THE BACK SEAT LATCH BREAKING DOWN. WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY RECALLS ON THE SRS LIGHT ON THE DASH AND THE BACK SEAT LATCH BREAKING DOWN. *TR
RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000, RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY, WAS ISSUED FOR OWNER'S VEHICLE. RECALL WAS FOR DEFECTIVE ACURA MDX TRANSMISSION. ACURA FAILED TO NOTIFY OWNER OF TRANSMISSION RECALL, EVEN THOUGH OWNER HAS LIVED AT SAME ADDRESS FOR NEARLY TEN YEARS. ACURA'S RECORDS CONFIRM THAT ACURA FAILED TO NOTIFY OWNER OF TRANSMISSION RECALL. OWNER DISCOVERED TRANSMISSION RECALL ON NHTSA WEBSITE IN 2008. OWNER BROUGHT VEHICLE TO AUTHORIZED ACURA DEALER IN OCTOBER OF 2008 FOR REPAIR OF DEFECTIVE RECALLED TRANSMISSION. ACURA DEALER DETERMINED THAT OWNER'S TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. ACURA DEALER ESTIMATED COST TO REPLACE OWNER'S TRANSMISSION AT $5,500.00. ACURA REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY FREE OF CHARGE REPLACEMENT SERVICE OR REPAIR TO RECALLED DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. OWNER'S VEHICLE HAS REMAINED ON PREMISES OF THE AUTHORIZED ACURA DEALER SINCE OCTOBER OF 2008. *TR
2002 MDX PURCHASED AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED WITH 37K MILES. AT 55K MILES REPORTED TO DEALER A RUMBLING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER VEHICLE. DEALER TEST DROVE THE CAR AND FOUND NOTHING. AT 65K MILES COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME THING, THEY FOUND NOTHING AND SUGGESTED TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE AND VTM FLUID CHANGE. I PERFORMED BOTH SERVICES. NOW AT 82K MILES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND VTM4 LIGHT COME ON, I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND THE TRANSMISSION TO BE BAD. TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACE ON MONDAY THE 22ND OF SEP UNDER WARRANTY. WILL TRADE CAR AFTER THEY FIX IT BECAUSE I DON'T TRUST IT ANYMORE, JUDGING FROM ALL THE PROBLEMS EVERYONE SEEMS TO HAVE WITH 2002. ACURA SHOULD PAY FOR EVERYONE'S PROBLEMS REGARDING TRANSMISSION/ MOTOR MOUNTS FOR MODEL YEAR MDX 01-02. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR WITH MUCH DIFFICULTY. THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DISCOLORED. THEY ARE CURRENTLY ATTEMPTING TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 69,000 MILES AFTER BEING RECALLED AT 25,000 MILES. CAR TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ALMOST LEADING TO A CRASH. CAR SLIPS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS NOW AND WILL LOCK UP REGULARLY. *TR
THE TRANSMISSION TO MY 2002 ACURA MDX STARTED TO MALFUNCTION ABOUT A WEEK AGO. IT STARTS TO SLIP FROM 1ST TO SECOND GEAR. I CALLED AN ACURA DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN SERVICED AND COVERED THE RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT NOTHING WAS DONE AND ACURA IS TRYING TO PASS THE COST TO ME. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 2002. *TR
ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. HAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 2002 ACURA MDX 83K MILES. *TR
RECENTLY EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING WITH MY 2002 MDX, ESPECIALLY GOING UPHILL AND DURING ACCELERATION, IT HESITATES AND THEN VIOLENTLY BANGS INTO GEAR. ALSO INTERMITTENTLY, REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT WORK AS WELL. THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION RECALL ON THIS MODEL/YEAR AND OUR CAR DID GET SERVICED FOR IT, THE DEALER DID NOT REPLACE TRANSMISSION BACK IN 2004 ONCE WE WERE INFORMED OF THE RECALL BUT AN OIL JET KIT WAS INSTALLED ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTIVE OF THE RECALL INSTRUCTIONS. WE'VE ALWAYS MAINTENANCE OUR CAR WITH THE DEALER IN A TIMELY FASHION AS RECOMMENDED BY FACTORY MAINTENANCE CARE GUIDELINE AND RECENTLY DID A FULL SERVICE WHICH INCLUDED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH 2 MONTHS AGO AT 120,000MILES. AFTER FULL DIAGNOSTIC/ASSESSMENT OF WHY OUR TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING IT TURNS OUT OUR TRANSMISSION FLUID (WHICH JUST GOT FLUSHED 2MONTHS AGO) WAS HEATING UP AND FILLING UP WITH DISCOLORATION. THIS IS THE EXACT DESCRIPTION OF WHAT WAS RECALLED IN 2004. OUR CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE QUOTED US $4800 TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED (FACTORY REMANUFACTURED). I TRULY BELIEVE THIS FAILURE IS RELATED TO THE 2004 RECALL. SOME FOLKS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR SITUATION HAS BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE TAKEN THEIR MATTER TO THE RIGHT DEALER, ACCORDING TO SOME DISCUSSION FORUMS ON THIS MATTER, THE DEALER AGREED TO PAY FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION (AFTER GETTING APPROVAL FROM ACURA CORPORATE OFFICE). IN MY SITUATION, IT HAS BEEN UNFORTUNATE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND GIVE US SOME CONSISTENCY/CONTINUITY ON THE HANDLING OF THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. *TR
I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE NALLEY ACURA DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT FOR SERVICING. THE SERVICE PERSONNEL TOLD ME AFTER CHECKING THE VEHICLE THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE SECOND GEAR WAS WORN OUT. MY WIFE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AFTER THIS FACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SECOND GEAR BREAKAGE IN THE TRANSMISSION FOR THE 2001-2002 MDX. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT MY VEHICLE BEING REPAIRED UNDER THIS RECALL, AND THEY WILL NOT AGREE TO PAY FULL COST OF $4000 FOR THE NEW TRANSMISSION, BUT STATED NOTHING OF THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO PAY HALF THE COST. AS STATED BELOW THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FULL REPAIRS AS MY VEHICLE HAS OVER 15,000 MILES AND OTHER REASONS AS STATED BELOW. I HAVE TRIED WORKING WITH THE MANUFACTURER ON THIS SITUATION FOR OVER A MONTH WITH STILL NO RESOLUTION. I WOULD APPRECIATE ASSISTANCE FROM YOU ALL CONCERNING MY VEHICLE BEING REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER PAYING IN FULL. THANK YOU. ON SOME MINI VANS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO GEAR TOOTH CHIPPING OR GEAR BREAKAGE. CONSEQUENCE: GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. REMEDY: ON VEHICLES WITH 15,000 MILES OR LESS, THE DEALER WILL UPDATE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A SIMPLE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE TO INCREASE LUBRICATION TO THE SECOND GEAR. ON VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 15,000 MILES, THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION TO IDENTIFY GEARS THAT HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED DISCOLORATION DUE TO OVERHEATING. IF DISCOLORATION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED IF DISCOLORATION IS NOT PRESENT, THE DEALER WILL PERFORM THE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 21, 2004, FOR PILOT, ODYSSEY, AND MDX OWNERS. *TR
MY 2002 ACURA MDX HAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000 MI ON IT AND RECENTLY THE TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED SLIPPAGE WHEN IT WOULD TRY TO ADJUST TO 2ND GEAR. AN INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON RECENTLY AND I HAD MY MECHANIC PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON IT. IT WAS REVEALED THAT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION CODE. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL ACURA DEALER (45 MINS AWAY) AND THEY DETERMINED THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THEY UPFRONT SAID THEY WOULD OFFER TO COVER 50% OF THE COST FOR PARTS & LABOR AS A GOODWILL GESTURE AND GAVE ME A FREE RENTAL CAR WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED. I THEN WENT ON NHTSA.GOV AND NOTED THERE WAS A VEHICLE RECALL IN 2004 ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LINES FOR 2002 ACURA MDX'S. I BROUGHT THIS ISSUE UP WITH MY SERVICE REP AND THEY SAID THAT IN 2004 THEY HAD MADE THE PROPER REVISION TO ALLEVIATE THIS PROBLEM DUE TO THE RECALL. (MADE A REVISION ON THE OIL COOLER LINE). I THEN CALLED ACURA CLIENT SERVICES AND SPOKE WITH A CASE MANAGER TO TELL HIM THAT I THINK THIS PROBLEM WITH MY TRANSMISSION WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE VEHICLE RECALL FROM 2004 AND USED THE ANALOGY THAT ACURA SIMPLY PUT A BAND AID OVER A GAPING WOUND TO TEMPORARILY SOLVE THE PROBLEM. HE SAID HE WOULD SEE IF HE COULD DO ANYTHING AND AS IT TURNS OUT, HE CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING BETTER HE COULD OFFER ME THAN 50/50 SPLIT OF THE COSTS. ACURA DID REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION THIS TIME, HOWEVER THEY CHARGED ME 50% OF THE SERVICE COST (~$1700). I FEEL THAT I HAVE GOTTEN THE SHORT END OF THE STICK AND THAT HAD PROPER PRECAUTIONS BEEN TAKEN IN 2004 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, I WOULDN'T HAVE TO TAKE IT IN THE SHORTS NOW FOR $1,700. I BELIEVE THE ACURA RECALL WAS P31. *TR
MOTOR MOUNTS ON 2002 ACURA MDX WITH 77,000 MILES FAILING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PROPERLY SWITCH GEARS AND THE RPMS WOULD INCREASE TO THE NEXT GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY ADDED AN OIL COOLER RETURN LINE, WHICH INCREASED LUBRICATION TO THE SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN NEED OF A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
DURING ROUTINE SERVICE VISIT, DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE FRONT AND SIDE ENGINE MOUNTS ARE WORN AND NEED REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 60K MILES, NO ACCIDENTS AND DEALER SERVICED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON (NHTSA COMPLAINT # 10186944) PROBLEM WITH THE MDX AND NUMEROUS ISSUES NOTED BY OWNERS ON TOPIX.COM. ACURA SAYS THEY HAVE NO TSB ON THIS ISSUE. *TR
2002 ACURA MDX AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB
TRANSMISSION CAME OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING. GEAR SELECTOR WAS NOT MOVED. DEALER PERFORMED OUT OF WARRANTY REPLACEMENT OR TRANSMISSION FOR THE SECOND TIME. FIRST REPLACEMENT WAS JUNE 2007. PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FIRST REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION WERE DISMISSED BY DEALER PERSONNEL. *JB
EARLY REPLACEMENT FAILURE/NEED FOR MOTOR MOUNTS IN 2002 ACURA MDX WITH UNDER 70,000 MILES. *TR
MY 2002 MDX HAS 75,000 MILES AND NEEDS THE ENGINE MOUNTS REPLACED. IT WAS REPORTED BY LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT ACURA'S DESIGN FLAWS ON THE MOTOR MOUNTS FOR 2001, 2002 MDX. LOTS OF DISCUSSIONS MAY BE FOUND ATHTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/ACURA-MDX/T54QBSPDKRMCCNV0A IT IS A DISASTER FOR CONSUMERS TO PAY FOR THE DESIGN DEFECTS! *TR
MIL COMES ON WITH DTC P1457 - SIGNALING EVAP BYPASS SOLENOID FAILURE. *TR
MULTIPLE ENGINE MOUNT FAILURES ON 2002 ACURA MDX. FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AT 40,000 MILES. SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED AT 79,000 MILES. BOTH FAILURES WERE IDENTIFIED BY AN ACURA DEALER AS IMPORTANT MECHANICAL AND SAFETY CONCERNS. BOTH FAILURES WERE REMEDIED BY AN ACURA DEALER. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
REAR FAN STOPPED WORKING FOR A/C & HEAT. MECHANIC ASSUMED IT WAS A BAD FAN MOTOR, BUT LATER DISCOVERED IT WAS A FAULTY R&R POWER TRANSISTOR. HE SAID THEY'VE SEEN A FEW OF THESE ON THE MDX'S. WE REPLACED THE OLD ONE WITH A NEW PART AND IT WORKS CORRECTLY NOW. *TR
TWO MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS BROKEN (1) OR CRACKED (1). THESE ARE THE RIGHT AND FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS ON AN ACURA MDX 2002. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 61,000 MILES ON IT. BASED ON AN INTERNET SEARCH AND CHECK OF THE CONSUMER REPORTS WEB SITE, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE ACURA MDX. *JB
THE 2001 ACURA MDX STALLS AT HIGH SPEEDS AND THEN KICKS BACK IN GEAR. IT'S KIND OF DANGEROUS TO ME. IT SEEMS TO BE ALOT OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND ACURA DENIES ANY PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. *TR
1ST INCIDENT: WE WERE GOING UP A HILL WITH CAR FULL OF CHILDREN WHEN MY 2002 ACURA MDX SLOWED DOWN CONSIDERABLY AND THE RPM REVVED UP TO 4-5,000. IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS AS TRUCKS AND CARS STARTED TO PILE BEHIND ME. I FINALLY REACHED AN EXIT AND PULLED OVER. AFTER PARKING, I COULD NOT REVERSE, IT WOULD NOT MOVE. AFTER WAITING AN HOUR FOR THE TOW TRUCK, WE DECIDED TO TEST THE CAR AROUND THE PARKING LOT .. IT STARTED DRIVING LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG, AND REVERSED AGAIN. SO WE TOOK OUR CHANCES AND DROVE CAREFULLY HOME. THE CAR DIDN'T ACT UP AFTER THAT BUT WE STARTED A CASE WITH ACURA/HONDA AFTER REALIZING THERE WAS A MASS TRANSMISSION RECALL. THEY SAID MY VIN WAS NOT UNDER THE RECALL WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NOT HELP. 2 DAYS LATER: WE ASSUMED THE HILL MUST HAVE BEEN TOO MUCH FOR THE CAR, BUT IT WAS OK TO DRIVE ON FLAT ROADS. WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AT 35MPH, THE CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY AND CONTINUED TO UNTIL I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER A PHONECALL TO ASSESS WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED, IT WAS SUGGESTED THE TRANSMISSION WAS ACTING UP. I CAUTIOUSLY DROVE THE CAR HOME WITH MY YOUNG DAUGHTER IN TOW. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ACURA TRANSMISSION RECALL, I GOT A CASE GOING AGAIN WITH HONDA. THEY SUGGESTED I TAKE THE CAR IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. I DID JUST THAT AND FAXED IN THE TECH COMMENTS. BASED ON THE COMMENTS, THEY CONCLUDED THAT THEY WILL NOT HELP BECAUSE I HAD TOO MANY MILES (98K) AND MY CAR WAS "POORLY MAINTAINED". HOWEVER I CONTESTED HOW IT WAS POORLY MAINTAINED AND THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER. I BOUGHT THE CAR 6 MONTHS AGO AT 95K AND PEFORMED ITS REGULAR OIL CHANGE AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. THEY RECOMMENDED I HAD TO REPLACE MY CV BOOTS AND BRAKES, BUT I DON'T SEE HOW THAT WOULD AFFECT THE TRANSMISSION. THEY QUOTED ME AT $5000 AND WOULD SEE TO ANY DISCOUNTS. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH, IT IS APPARENT THAT THERE ARE DEFINITELY MANUFACTURE DEFECTS IN THESE TRANSMISSIONS, BUT ACURA AND HONDA HAS MADE IT CLEAR TO ME THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026